Enjoy broiled yellowtail for a healthy and delicious meal. The mild and sweet white fish fillets are blackened and cooked to flaky fish perfection.
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What You Need to Broil Snapper
- Yellowtail snapper fillets (you can sub any type of white fish fillets: mangrove snapper, mango snapper, red snapper, tripletail, mahi, grouper, hogfish, etc.)
- Olive oil
- Blackened Seasoning (recipe is on the printable recipe card below)
- Salt & pepper
- Lemon wedges
Which Pan to Use for Broiling
I use a half-sheet pan for broiling fish. Glass or Pyrex pans are not broiler-proof. Silicone bakeware and nonstick pans should be reserved for the oven.
A broiler typically runs anywhere from 500-550°F. Do not use parchment paper under the broiler. It could catch on fire over 400°F.
How To Season Broiled Fish
Fresh yellowtail needs very little seasoning to make it delicious. I use a homemade blackening seasoning for this recipe.
You can also use Old Bay or your favorite lemon pepper seasoning.
I also love the Southernmost Blend from The Key West Spice Company. This is a local product you can pick up in Publix and Winn Dixie all over Florida.
To broil fish without salt, try Mrs. Dash's Original seasoning. It tastes great!
How To Broil Thin White Fish Fillets
- Move the oven rack up to the top third of the oven. The fish should be 3 to 4 inches from the heating element.
- Heat broiler.
- Lightly spray or brush a baking sheet with oil to prevent sticking. Place fish skin side up on the pan, if there is no skin, the skin side is the smoother side with stripes on it. If the skin is present, score it several times with a paring knife to prevent curling.
- Brush the top of the fish with oil.
- Season with a little salt and pepper.
- Lightly sprinkle the blackening seasoning over the fish, about a half tablespoon per fillet.
- Broil until the fish is opaque, about 10 minutes. The internal temperature should be 140°F. Do not flip the fish while it is cooking.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the fish with a wide fish turner to plates.
When broiling thin white fish like snapper, do not flip the fish while broiling or baking--it will fall apart.
NOTE: If you're cooking a small yellowtail or a pompano, be careful with the timing. They may be cooked through in 4 or 5 minutes.
How Do I Know When Yellowtail Snapper is Done?
According to the FDA, fish should reach an internal temperature of 140°F. You can remove the fish from the broiler and insert an instant thermometer into the thickest part for a quick reading.
The broiled fish will be opaque white when it's cooked through. The meat will flake when you pull a fork through it. When undercooked, the flesh will feel a little tight and will not easily pull apart with the fork.
What To Serve with Broiled Fish
You can also top your favorite salad with broiled fish. Try our Caesar Salad recipe.
How about fruit? Try Mango with Chili Lime Salt. Get a tree-ripened mango and season it with lime zest, flaky sea salt, and chili powder for the perfect side for blackened snapper. Mango Pico de Gallo is a refreshing side dish on a hot day.
Try these sides with your broiled yellowtail:
Where Can We Catch Yellowtail?
If you're visiting the Keys and you'd like to catch your own, read this article from Florida Sportsman to get all the details. There are permits and limits that you need to be aware of before going fishing in Florida.
Summary
Broiled Yellowtail Snapper with Blackened Seasoning is an easy recipe for a very delicious piece of fish.
Yellowtail snapper is known for its distinctive yellow stripe running the length of its body. The flesh is mild and sweet tasting.
In this recipe, I show you how to broil yellowtail, red snapper, or any other thin white fish fillet. The whole process takes 15 minutes.
Broiling fish is easy and the results are always good. Brush the fish with oil before broiling so it doesn't dry out. To season the fish, a little salt and pepper or a dusting of blackening seasoning or your favorite spice mixture is all you need.
Thin white fish fillets such as yellowtail or red snapper are very versatile and can be fried, roasted, baked, or broiled. Try these other yellowtail recipes:
- Pan Fried Snapper with Panko Breadcrumbs
- Pan Fried Yellowtail Snapper
- Yellowtail Snapper Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
- Air Fryer Snapper with Cauliflower Recipe
- Roasted Yellowtail Snapper with Old Bay
If you want to catch yellowtail in The Keys, you can do it as a fun sport or by going on a charter with a captain who knows how to catch them. It's like having an expert guide to help you catch plenty of fish and have a great time!
Whether you are paleo, pescatarian, keto, or you love to try local fish, this yellowtail is for you! It is all-natural, gluten-free, dairy-free, and made with clean wild-caught fish, and low in carbs. Try it and let me know what you think in the comments.
"📖 Recipe"
Broiled Yellowtail Snapper
Ingredients
- 1 yellowtail fillet, 8 ounces per serving
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons blackened seasoning *recipe below
- salt
- pepper
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels.
- Move the oven rack up to the top third of the oven. Preheat the broiler. The fish should be 3 to 4 inches from the heating element.
- Lightly spray or brush the baking sheet with olive oil to prevent sticking. Place the fish on the pan, brush the top of the fish with oil. If the skin is on the fish, score it with a paring knife to prevent it from curling.
- Season with a little salt and pepper. Lightly sprinkle the blackening seasoning over the fish, about a half tablespoon per fillet
- Broil until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the oven. Transfer the fish with a wide spatula or fish turner to plates. Serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (use more if you prefer spicy food)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
The provided nutritional information is an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
FAQ
Yes, snapper is a lean source of protein with no carbs. It is broiled with oil and seasonings.
This broiled yellowtail entree has 479 calories per serving.
Yellowtail snapper naturally carries a distinct seafood flavor. When freshly caught and cooked, the absence of the usual "fishy" taste is evident, and instead, you'll find a subtle hint of the salt water it originated from, without the strong, aging fish flavor often associated with older catches.
When baking or broiling thin white fish fillets like snapper, do not flip the fish --it will fall apart.
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